June 2.0

Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld
What if Hillary hadn't married Bill Clinton? Hmmmmm...wasn't sure about this concept? Could Sittenfeld pull it off? The answer is a resounding YES. Once Hillary leaves Arkansas and her relationship with Bill, her life takes an independent turn. I won't give away where this book goes (that would be cheating and all together mean), but suffice it to say it is mind-blowing and awesome and totally plausible to me. Sittenfeld takes history and doesn't just turn it upside down; she twists it and shakes it and lights a few torches under it. The messages about forces that women face as they try to lead, the overt and as well as subtle sexism found in a third grade classroom as well as a law school, the 'likability' factor of how a woman is allowed to be in charge, the life choices made that lead to roads of opportunity as well as roads to nowhere, the ties of family and friends that enrich a life, and figures of history that might have made alternate decisions that would have shaped America. Oh my, what an experience this book was - I couldn't put it down and wish I could read it again with new eyes. I'm still not sure if it made me sad for what we lost, or hopeful for what America could choose in the future? Working on the hope.

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay
Looking for some good ole escapism? This could be your ticket to 'take me away!' The story revolves around Madeline - a frustrated corporate lawyer who inherits her aunt's independent bookstore, as well as the two priceless booksellers who work there. Together, these three women deal with family issues, divorce, love interest, vandalism, and how the heck to keep this lovely lil bookstore afloat. It was a wonderful place to spend a couple days:)

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
I was an Elin Hilderbrand virgin, and let me tell you, this woman write a LOT of books and has a LOT of fans. Count me as one of them now. 28 Summers was a fascinating listen, as it covers twenty-eight years of not only the two main characters, but also what was going on in America for each year. (yes, it made me feel old occasionally as something that was big ten years ago felt like it had happened yesterday). Ostensibly, this is a love story of Jake and Mallory, who meet on Nantucket as their adult lives are just beginning. The chemistry is hot and the connection is real, but after watching the famous movie, they decide to keep it 'same time next year.' So each year, on Labor Day weekend, they have their moment. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Yet Hilderbrand weaves in motifs of trust, fidelity, politics, passion, family, you name it. I could not stop listening to this one!!

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
I love me a good YA book! Full of sassy smart teens who just want to do right in the world - does it get better than this? The lead is our girl Pip (I know, such a British name, along with British slang used throughout by this British author - NO idea why she set it in America - weird). Pip is bound and determined to solve an old mystery for her senior project, the murder of fellow high school student by her boyfriend. As Pip investigates, she brings in the brother of the alleged murderer and they both go down some dark scary roads to solve the mystery. It's not all fluff though, and there are some creepy parts that were hard for me to read. It also deals with issues around race, public shaming, and questionable behavior in education. Definitely a page turner - I have already purchased the sequel!

The Mountains Wild by Sara Stewart Taylor
First off, the cover for this book blows. Like it is really bad. And that is unfortunate because I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery found within the pages. A Long Island police woman has her own family mystery, a cousin who disappeared years ago in Ireland. When her scarf is then found in an area where other women have disappeared as well, the case reopens and a trip to Dublin is called for. I loved the characters in this book: Maggie, the detective who has long memories of her trip long ago to Dublin as she searched for Erin; Erin herself, the free spirit cousin who had secrets and demons; the Irish cop who provides a 'partner' spirit to Maggie; and the lost love found in Dublin. I was intrigued by references to 'the Troubles,' the city of Dublin, and the search over many years to find answers that didn't want to be found. Satisfying murder mystery.